God’s Word encourages us to spur one another on. He knows we benefit from meeting together. We accomplish more together. There are so many benefits of being in community. We’re more likely to stay focused, persevere, and complete the goals we set. We’re less likely to be discouraged too. Yet, we need to be vulnerable with one another, admit we need each other, and let others into our life. How are you doing building your community? Are you participating? Or are you sitting on the sidelines? Today, I have a challenge for you.
True Story Ahead
Back in June, I joined Beachbody on Demand, which is an online streaming of lots of different workout and nutritional programs with coaches. Why? Because I wanted to conquer those ten pounds that like me so much. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know those ten pounds are like a boomerang. I get rid of them, and they just find their way back to me.
Most of my life, I’ve been interested in nutrition and exercise. It’s ebbed and flowed over the years, but I’m won over to the benefits. I’ve practiced all kinds of nutritional and exercise challenges throughout my adult life. In my twenties I completed the MS 150 Bike Ride (twice). That challenge was not just for me, but for my dad too. He suffered from Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
In my thirties, I did the Body-for-LIFE 12-week challenge. Purpose? I wanted to be able to say once in my life I was really fit after having three kids. I accomplished that goal. I have pictures of me in a two-piece bikini flexing with all three of my kiddos to prove it.
I skipped exercise and nutritional programs in my 40’s because I was challenged by other things that decade including completing two degrees. I did discover the benefits of red wine in my forties though.
I’ve completed the Whole30 Program twice a year for the last four years. There have been many reasons for doing this, beginning with the first time to help my youngest daughter’s health. She needed a partner. Then the second time was to help my son and his wife while they did this program for the first time. I did it once with my oldest daughter. I started seeing real benefits. Like, I started learning how to cook better. This was no small feat for the queen of blackened food. I could finally make meals that everyone in my family could eat (no dairy, no gluten, no burning). And, I experienced increased energy, lost a few pounds every time, and got to have shared experiences with my family.
My People, My Community
Last fall, I lost my full-time job of ten years at a Christian university. With that loss, I also lost my daily community of amazing people. I didn’t realize how much my Christian friends at work had become my people, my community. I was blessed with honest and deep friendships. They encouraged me, challenged me, and supported me in ways I didn’t know I benefitted from until I no longer had them every day.
This past year has been one of much change. I admit I was alone a lot for six months before I started my new job. Not an easy experience for someone who has Woo and Communication talents. For those of you who understand Woo, well, I need say no more. If you don’t know about Gallup CliftonStrengths, send me a message. I’ll fill you in. I am a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach.
Even with starting a new job, I still felt disconnected, not really sure where I belonged or who my community was any more.
This summer God strongly revealed to me how important it is to have community. We can’t do life alone. We need supportive and encouraging people in our life. We need friends. Friends who will laugh with us, cry with us, and hold us accountable. We need coaches and mentors. Not just once in a while, but regularly.
For me, I’ve realized more than ever the importance of community. I need community. I need a Christian community. I need my people to help me, and I think they need me too.
After all, I’m confident God has given me the spiritual gift of encouragement. I need people to encourage! At the same time, I need to be encouraged too. We’re all a part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). We need each other.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Like I’m won over to the benefits of nutrition and exercise, I’m also won over to the benefits of belonging in community. God tells us we need each other, and He wants us to keep meeting together.
This summer, I realized it was time for me to connect again in tangible ways in community. I needed to start meeting together with Christians again. So, I started making regular dates with my friends.
I’ve also joined the women’s Bible study at church again. There are amazing women at my church.
While I joined a Christian writer’s group a couple of years ago, I’m interacting more regularly again in this online group. Hope*writers has created a space for Christian writers tto ravel together in our writing efforts.
Along with the above, I’ve started coaching and mentoring others. In fact, I’ve joined a mentoring program to mentor an undergraduate student majoring in communication. I’m super excited to help this young Christian woman.
And then there’s my family. They are my people, my community too. And yes, family, you should know I’ll be scheduling 1:1 Strengths coaching sessions with you. You deserve to discover more who God made you to be and the wonderful talents He’s given each of you. That’s an awesome benefit, for me too because I get to be a part of helping you discover.
4th Annual Pumpkin Drop
I joined BeachBody on Demand after months of a coach reaching out to me through Instagram. She didn’t pressure me, but rather she encouraged me. Her genuine connection and regular checking in with me are what won me over to join. That and she looks amazing. So, she’s living what she tells others they can accomplish. She invited me to join a super cool online group called “Fit Sisterhood.” We are a group of Christian women who all belong to the BeachBody community. We are all on different journeys, but together we encourage each other and validate the challenging journey to better health and fitness. Like all the other nutrition and exercise programs I’ve done, it’s a lot easier with community.
The time has come for me to do another challenge, and I’m going to ask you to join me. My BeachBody coach is doing a 5-week challenge. We started Monday. It’s her 4th Annual Pumpkin Drop. My goal is to drop the boomerang 10 pounds. I bought a pumpkin for a visual aid to show just what 10 pounds looks like in pumpkinville. 🙂
My coach encourages that Pumpkin Drop goals can be more than just dropping pounds or exercising 30 minutes each day. Some of us need to drop fear and/or fear of failure. Maybe we need to drop some bad habits, like watching too much tv, sitting too long, or staying up too late (like I’m doing right now).
Maybe we need to drop worrying so much. Maybe we need to drop some money in someone else’s pocket who may need it more than we do. Maybe we need to drop someone a line and connect with them. Maybe we need to drop a bad relationship. Maybe we need to drop everything and reconnect with Jesus on a daily basis.
Friends, life is challenging. This is all the more reason to belong to a community. We are made for relationships. We are made for community. We’re are not meant to travel this life alone. We need each other. We need to hold up each other, be vulnerable, and be there for one another. We need to spur one another on. We need to share the journey of life together.
You’ve joined my blog for a reason. I think it’s because you’re my people, and I’m one of your people. We are a community. Because of that, I want to create a space for you.
If you want to join me for the next five weeks for a pumpkin drop, I’d love to encourage you.
Just comment and let me know what your pumpkin drop goal is. It doesn’t have to be losing weight or exercising regularly, but it does need to be something you personally want to see change in your life and only you know what that is. Let’s spur one another on this month.
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